CELINE’S POV-


    The air in the hallway feels thick. Suffocating. It’s pressing in on me from all sides. I should leave. I should walk past Hunter, answer Cole, and pretend this moment never happened.


    But I don’t. Because Hunter doesn’t move.


    His eyes stay locked on mine, dark and unreadable, the way they always are when he’s thinking something he won’t say out loud. His body is still, but there’s a suspense in his stance-like he’s holding himself back.


    Like if I push him, even a little, he might snap.


    I swallow hard and shift my weight, gripping Caesar’s toy tighter. “I should go,” I say, forcing my voice to stay calm. “He’s waiting.”


    Hunter’s jaw tightens. And then, quietly-too quietly–he says, “He can wait.”


    1 blink. “What?”


    Hunter Breathes out sharply, but it doesn’t sound like frustration. It sounds like something heavier. Something he doesn’t want to admit.


    And then his voice drops lower, colder. Sharper.


    “Or maybe he can figure it out himself.” A chill runs down my spine. Not because I’m afraid.


    But because I don’t know what this is. This thing between us. I take a breath, steadying myself.


    “Hunter…sir…” I corrected.


    He straightens. The movement is slow, and calcted. He steps back just enough to let me breathe. But not enough to set me free.


    “Follow me.” It’s not a request. It’s amand.


    I hesitate. My heart ms against my ribs, and my head turns -just slightly-toward Cole. He’s still waiting, probably wondering why I haven’t answered.


    But in the end, I don’t call out to him.


    I follow Hunter.


    The door closes behind us with a soft, deliberate click.


    Final. I stand there, gripping Caesar’s toy like it’s some kind of lifeline, while Hunter moves across the room with slow, measured steps.


    He doesn’t look at me right away. Instead, he pours himself a drink-something dark, something strong-and lifts the ss to his lips.


    For a moment, I think he won’t speak. But then- “Why do you let them get so close?” His voice is smooth. Controlled. Too controlled,


    Like he’s keeping something locked behind his teeth. My eyebrows knit together. “I don’t-”


    “You do.”


    His gaze finally meets mine, and the intensity in his eyes nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.


    “You have control, Celine.”


    The way he says my name makes my pulse stutter. I shake my head, my fingers tightening around the plush fabric of the stuffed toy.


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    Hunter exhales, shaking his head once like he doesn’t believe me. Then he moves.


    Slowly.


    Deliberately. Until he’s standing right in front of me. His presence is overwhelming. Not because he’s touching me. But because he could


    And I don’t know if I’d stop him.


    “You let him touch you,” Hunter says, his voice edged with something I can’t quite ce.


    Something possessive. Something dangerous. I suck in a breath. “He was helping,” I say, forcing my voice to stay even.


    Hunter’s expression flickers. Anger. Frustration. Jealousy. He clenches his jaw, breathing out sharply. For a second, I think he might do something reckless.


    But then-He steps back.


    The air between us shifts. Expands. But the tension stays. His next wordse out low and firm.


    “Stay away from him.”


    I blink. My lips part, ready to protest, ready to demand what right he has to say that. But before I can- The door swings open.


    Vincent.


    He leans against the doorframe, one eyebrow raised, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.


    “Am 1 interrupting something?” Hunter doesn’t move. His expression doesn’t change. But something in the air shifts again. <fn6d63> Read full story at Find?Novel</fn6d63>


    “You came over fast,” Hunter says coolly. “I’m impressed.” Vincent just grins. Too entertained.


    “Rx,” he drawls, pushing off the doorframe. He pauses, then tilts his head slightly. “Oh,” he adds, mockingly casual. “Cole’s looking for a certain Celine.”


    My stomach twists.


    Hunter’s jaw clenches. Vincent watches him, eyes flickering with interest, like he’s waiting for something. And I stand there.


    Frozen. Between them. My heart is pounding. Not just from what was happening in the study.


    But from him.


    From the way, Hunter looked at me. From the way, his words still cling to my skin like something I can’t wash off.


    I feel trapped between them-Hunter and Vincent. Two different storms, both dangerous in their way.


    Hunter, with his unreadable eyes and sharp-edged control.


    Vincent, with his easy smirk and the way he watches too closely.


    I don’t belong in that room, Not between them.


    …e study. So I do the only thing I can. I nod-polite, quick-keeping my head down as I clutch Caesar’s toy tighter and slip out


    Neither of them stops me. But I feel their eyes on my back the entire way. I don’t stop moving.


    I weave through the hallway, past the other maids who nce at me, their curiosity-like whispers against my skin. I ignore them.


    I tell myself I need air. But what I need is space-from him.


    By the time I step into the garden, the fresh air barely helps. My breath is still rough. My hands still shake.


    And then I see Cole.


    He’s waiting, standing near the rows of hanging linens, sunlight catching in his hair. When he spots me, his mouth lifts into an easy, warm smile.


    But I don’t smile back.


    I can’t. I’m too shaken. Too tangled in the


    “You okay?” he asks, his voice gentle.


    I just walked away from. Cole’s smile falters slightly. His brows pull together as he studies me.


    I open my mouth to respond. But the only thing plush fabric of Caesar’s toy.


    is


    Hunter’s voice. “Stay away from him.” I swallow hard, my fingers tightening around the


    And I lie. “I’m fine.”


    HUNTER’S POV-


    Vincent doesn’t leave right away. He watches Celine slip through the door, his smirk slow and knowing, before turning back to me.


    And I already know what’sing.


    Vincent leanszily against my desk, as if he belongs here, like he’s always belonged anywhere he damn well pleases. He lets out a low whistle, tilting his ss in my direction.


    “That maid of yours,” he drawls, his voice carrying that familiar edge of amusement. “You act like you hate her, but I’m not blind.”


    I don’t respond.


    I don’t need to.


    My jaw tightens, my grip on my drink flexing. Vincent sees it. Of course, he does. And heughs, pouring himself another drink without asking.


    “Cole’s making moves and you’re just standing there. Interesting


    I shoot him a warning look.


    “Stay out of it.”


    ”


    But Vincent? He never stays out of anything. He circles, pushing buttons just to see which ones will crack.


    “You sure you want to let someone else take her?” His voice is lighter than it should be, but I know him too well. He’s watching me closely.


    “Maybe you’re not the man I thought you were.”


    My fingers tighten around my ss, but my voice stays even. “I don’t care what she does. She’s just a maid.” I force the words out. But they taste wrong. Bitter. Like a lie, I don’t believe.


    Vincent shrugs, tipping his ss to his lips.


    “If you say so.” He turns, heading for the door. But just as he reaches it, he pauses. nces back at me over his shoulder.


    And then he delivers the final blow.


    “Cole’s with her right now, you know.” A deliberate pause. “Smiling. Touching.”


    11.04 Tue, 29 Ju


    Júl


    GM


    His smirk deepens, a challenge in his


    eyes.


    “You


    might want to


    figure out how much


    of


    Just a maid’ she i


    e is to you.


    The door clicks shut


    behind him. And I’m left


    drink. With the silence. With the alone. With my


    unbearable truth wing its way through my chest,


    I don’t want to care.


    But I do.


    1


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